Work

MacroH2A Allows ATP-Dependent Chromatin Remodeling by SWI/SNF and ACF Complexes but Specifically Reduces Recruitment of SWI/SNF

Year: 2008

Type: article

Abstract: The variant histone macroH2A helps maintain X inactivation and gene silencing. Previous work implied that nucleosomes containing macroH2A cannot be remodeled by ISWI and SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling enzymes. Using approaches that prevent misassembly of macroH2A nucleosomes, we find that macroH2A nucleosomes are excellent substrates for both enzyme families. Interestingly, SWI/SNF, which is involved in gene activation, preferentially binds H2A nucleosomes over macroH2A nucleosomes, but ACF, an ISWI complex implicated in gene repression, shows no preference. Thus, macroH2A may help regulate the balance between activating and repressive remodeling complexes.

Source: Biochemistry

DOI: 10.1021/bi8016944

Authors: Evelyn Y. Chang, Helder Ferreira, Joanna Somers, Dmitri A. Nusinow, Tom Owen-Hughes, Geeta J. Narlikar

Institutions: University of Dundee, University of California, San Francisco

Language: English

Topic: Chromatin Remodeling and Cancer

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Wellcome Trust, Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung

Award: Mechanisms for remodelling chromatin.